CVS proposes new store in Marion

In a town with a past of battling corporate franchises looking to plant flags on its soil, CVS is proposing a 14,600-square-foot drive-through pharmacy.

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By SIMÓN RIOS

southcoasttoday.com

By SIMÓN RIOS

Posted Sep. 5, 2014 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 5, 2014 at 5:41 AM

By SIMÓN RIOS

Posted Sep. 5, 2014 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 5, 2014 at 5:41 AM

» Social News

MARION — In a town with a past of battling corporate franchises looking to plant flags on its soil, CVS is proposing a 14,600-square-foot drive-through pharmacy.

"How many days does it mean that my street's blocked off?" said abutter Dan Mahoney, who with his wife owns the bead store Island Creations on Front Street.

Developer Mark Investments Inc. proposed the pharmacy at Route 6 and Front Street to the Planning Board this week. Though in its earliest stages, the store would be a quarter the size of a football field, across from a Cumberland Farms and kitty-corner from a vacant Cumberland Farms.

Mahoney said he's not opposed to corporate box stores, but he's concerned about how construction will affect business.

"We're a small business, we're just trying to work our way back from a bunch of personal problems, and having a period of time, three months or six months, whatever it takes, ... that's worrisome to me," he said.

The proposed development calls for the relocation of the historic Captain Hadley House, a three-story Greek revival that houses Old Rochester Community Television, an insurance company and a few small practices. ORCTV's director declined to comment, as did the president of Stickles Insurance Agency.

The store would add to CVS's 7,700 retail pharmacies nationwide. It would be about three times the size of the Cumberland Farms across the street.

Dean Holt, a representative of Mark Investments, defended the plans at a Planning Board meeting but did not respond to multiple interview requests. A spokesman for CVS also did not respond in time for deadline.

The proposal invokes memories of the decade-long fight against a Dunkin' Donuts on Route 6, which ended in 2009 with the franchise opening. The store provoked fierce and colorful debate at the time with some town residents worried about Marion going the way of Wareham or Fairhaven if chain stores came to town.

One faction is certain to press for a smaller CVS, including Planning Board Chairman Stephen Kokkins. For this group, if you're going to displace a historic building for the sake of a box store, it better make sense from the standpoints of size and aesthetics.

"We can accept the idea of that being moved, but what's replacing it should be compatible with all of the newer commercial developments in town," Kokkins said.

As with the cases of Dunkin' Donuts and Cumberland Farms, the final CVS plan should downsize its original proposal and be consistent with the "1800s seaside town" character of Marion. He acknowledged this could mean less profit for the company.

"We want to work with these people," he said. "We want them to come back as often as possible to our meetings."

"We're not anti-business. What we are is taking care of the character and citizens of Marion."

Another faction, however, will be likely to welcome CVS in the name of commerce and development. Across Route 6 is Gino Fernandes Jr., owner of Marion Computer, who was upbeat about his potential new neighbor. He noted that CVS recently decided to ditch tobacco products from its offerings, foregoing what the company estimates as $2 billion in sales.

"Businesses in the area are going to work together to help each other," he said. "I think if there's a business across the street, that's going to boost the value of the commercial real estate around here."

"If we get more traffic here, then in turn it's going to bring more people in here, which is going to help me support my family."